That’s what J. I. Packer calls Keswick theology. And for good reason, too. It nearly destroyed him.
For details, see my guest post today for Kevin DeYoung’s blog: “Pietistic Goofiness: How Keswick Theology Nearly Destroyed J.I. Packer.”
Archives For June 2010
Within a week of announcing that Logos Bible Software is publishing my book Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology, I received over one hundred emails and comments asking the same question: “Will your book be available in print?”
Short Answer
No, at least for now.
Longer Answer
No. The plan for now is that the book will be available exclusively in electronic format from Logos Bible Software.
The factors involved in this decision are complicated, but here are some reasons that I chose Logos Bible Software to publish my first solo book:
- I love Logos Bible Software. I’d rather have a book in Logos format than in print any day. Continue Reading…
My pastor, Mike Bullmore, began his sermon last Sunday with a brief update regarding a conference he ministered at the previous week in Toronto. The conference MP3s are available for free, and here’s what Mike contributed:
- The Functional Centrality of the Gospel
- Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
- The Gospel and Pastoral Character
- Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Symons, Boot, Martin, and guests
- The Gospel and Pastoral Labor
- Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
- The Gospel and Pastoral Hope
- Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin, Symons, and guests
I enjoy singing Andrew Peterson’s “Beautiful Girl” to my two-year-old daughter Kara. (It’s on his album Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies.) So for Father’s Day, Jenni framed this picture for me (click to enlarge):
I’ve published these three blog posts on The Gospel Coalition in the last three days:
- Carson on 1 Peter 2:9-10. A PDF of Carson’s chapter in a book that just came out this month.
- Carson’s Sermon on God at Next. An MP3 of a sermon Carson preached on May 30.
- Why Can’t We Just Read the Bible? A PDF of an interview with Michael Horton on hermeneutics and theological method.
I recently answered these questions from Alex Chediak about my book on Keswick theology:
- Keswick theology teaches that, after salvation, one must pursue the second blessing. Having received it, can one lose this “second blessing”? If so, what would be the mark(s) of such a loss?
- How would such a person get it back?
- Is Keswick thinking in any way at the root of the struggle many have with discerning “the personal will of God” for their lives?
- Some of us might read names like Andrew Murray, J. Hudson Taylor, and Amy Carmichael and think “Wow. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.” Does Keswick thinking, historically, have a track record of promoting more holy living on the part of Christians?
- In your handout, you say, “Since it is unlikely that all living believers will agree on their view of sanctification, believers should promote unity on this issue as much as possible.” Can you unpack this a bit?
- Romans 7 is a text that divides Christians, with some saying that Paul is referring to the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin, and others (like Doug Moo, and Martin Lloyd-Jones) arguing that Paul is referring to a pre-converted man (possibly himself). Is it possible to take the latter view and still not be a proponent of Keswick theology?
- Related to the previous question, when discussing the believer’s ongoing struggle, should we use the word “flesh” or “old man” to refer to what John Owen called our “remaining corruptions”? Is there a difference?
Related:
